COFFEE ON THE DOCK

“For as by the one man's   disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's   obedience the many will be made righteous,” Romans 5:19 ESV. To the same extent, Adam’s sin condemned all mankind; Jesus’ obedience gives the right standing before God to those who put their trust in Him. So, likewise, the righteousness of the Son of God is immediately imputed to those who believe in His redemptive work. He came down from heaven, taught us the truth, demonstrated walking in love, redeemed us, commissions us, and fills us with His Spirit. So, each day I’m faced with a decision, will I walk in Adam’s condemnation or in Christ’s redemption and resurrection power? LORD, give me strength to cling to Your divine work. In Your mercy, melt me, mold me, fill me, use me! 

“‘Am I a God who is near, declares the Lord, ‘And not a God far off?’“ Can a man hide himself in hiding places, So I do not see him?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?’ declares the Lord.’” Jeremiah 23:23-24. Time spent pondering the life-transforming power of God's presence is time well invested. Bidden, or not bidden, He is always near, yet He often remains unacknowledged. Awareness of His presence is a major game-changer. I must recalibrate my mind, body, and spirit to recognize and welcome God’s Presence. Upon awakening, I must thank Him for the gift of a new day. Throughout each day, I must practice disciplines that cultivate consciousness of His Presence. At the close of each day, I must trustingly rest in God’s Presence, casting all my cares upon Him. Lord, grant me the grace to pull away from the dizzying anxiety of this world and, like a child, lay my head against Your chest. May my breath rise and fall in cadence with Yours and help me lear...

“Do you not fear me? Declares the LORD. Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; Though they roar, they cannot pass over it,” Jeremiah 5:22 ESV. Beholding an ocean scape is full of life lessons, so I will offer just a few. What you see on the surface tells very little of its true volume and hidden abundance. While significant activity can be seen on top, the real action is only discovered by going deeper. There is always much more over the horizon headed your way. Every wave leaves new treasures along the shoreline, but an effort must be made to uncover them. Eternal God and Maker of All things You made the seas as but a token of Your Mighty Wonders. You are the Well that Never Runs Dry, the Dawn that Never Dims, and the Depths of Your Love are never exhausted. 

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost,” Luke 19:10 ESV. Having lived most of my life in a city by the sea, I’ve been around search and rescue operations and operators often. Rivers, lakes, and oceans are beautiful, but they can be very dangerous under certain conditions. I’ve always admired the brave men and women who do search and rescue. Jesus came to “seek and to save,” as believers, we, too, must care for the lost. At any given moment, in any given place, we may be called upon by God to pull away from our daily routine to focus on a lost soul or help heal a broken heart. On a plane, at the store, in a taxi, waiting in line, I’ve been pulled into life-giving moments so many times; blessed opportunities to be "God’s Hands" extended. LORD, help me stay keenly aware of the needs around me. Use me to be Your Hands of Mercy. 

“O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.  So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory,” Psalm 63:1-2 NKJV. The quietness of the early morning is a daily gift from God. As the world awakens around me, so does my soul. Light appears on the horizon and exposes what was previously shrouded in darkness. In the same manner, the Lord’s Light penetrates the deepest darkness of my heart and brings forth repentance, cleansing, and joy. New faith is released to walk in His unfailing love, and fresh resolve to steer clear of known traps arises within me. O Lord My Maker and Redeemer, I welcome Your truth. May faithfulness replace my unwillingness. Heal my wounds and use me to heal others to be a source of healing to others. 

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand,” Isaiah 41:10 NIV. In 1960, Hurricane Donna slammed into North Florida with all its fury. The power went out, and our only occasional light was a flash of lightning. The wind howled and tore at our home, the rain pounded, sounding like a speeding train! As a 5-year-old, I was terrified, but each flash of lightning revealed my Daddy’s silhouette as he stood the watch. I fell asleep, assured all was well. And it was. Over a lifetime, I have come to trust my Heavenly Father through the storms of life in the same manner. I sometimes lose sight of Him, but I see His powerful Presence in a momentary flash of light, and I rest. Precious Father, one glimpse of Your Presence sends fear scampering away. 

“ He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty,” Psalm 91:1 NKJV. The secret place is any place God calls us under His shadow. More often than not, it is in times of deep, anguished, or desperate prayer, where we say and genuinely mean, “not my will, but Yours be done.” There is no room for personal pride in the secret place. The secret place is not merely a scheduled prayer time; it is a deeper place within a prayer.   “When you pray,   go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place ;   and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly , ” Matthew 6:6 NKJV. The secret place is a fully surrendered, uncluttered space within prayer. This kind of prayer refreshes the heart while cutting away fleshly things. LORD, thank You for Your divine invitations and holy intrusions. Make, me, melt me mold me, use me.